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This raises an question from an Orthodox Freeper: in the Orthodox Church, taking communion in a church other than an Orthodox Church is effectively declaring yourself out of communion with the Orthodox Church.

Is this seen as less severe in the Roman Catholic Church?

This raises an question from an Orthodox Freeper: in the Orthodox Church, taking communion in a church other than an Orthodox Church is effectively declaring yourself out of communion with the Orthodox Church.

Is this seen as less severe in the Roman Catholic Church?

It is a serious sin, inasmuch as it proclaims a unity among Christians that is regrettably not truly present at this time. Done habitually, it can be seen as doing just that.

This raises an question from an Orthodox Freeper: in the Orthodox Church, taking communion in a church other than an Orthodox Church is effectively declaring yourself out of communion with the Orthodox Church.

Is this seen as less severe in the Roman Catholic Church?

The general answer to your question is, YES. There is one exception. A Catholic can receive Communion in an Orthodox Church if there are no Catholic Churches in the area. The reason is that the Catholic Church recognizes the validity of the Holy Eucharist in the Orthodox Church. That is, Orthodox and Catholic doctrine about the Sacrament of Holy Eucharist is the same and so is the Sacrament of Holy Orders.

The reason the Catholic Church -- and the Orthodox Church -- prohibit receiving communion in another Christian Church is that no other Christian denomination believes their communion is anything more than a symbol -- with the exception of certain Lutherans at the time of Luther! In short, receiving communion in the AME Church states that Kerry endorses their belief that there is no difference between the Holy Eucharist of the Catholic (and Orthodox Church(es) and the communion of the AME Church.

I don't want to cause a big problem here as I am a conservative Lutheran. As much of a problem I have with Kerry, and I have a lot of problems with him, I think that taking communion in another church causes no problems whatsoever. If we look at what communion is for, why would anyone have a problem with it? I believe is it silly church doctrine that would restrict people to only taking communion at certain places. That being said, I believe Kerry is pandering to the religious for votes and nothing more.

Is this seen as less severe in the Roman Catholic Church?

With his actions, he's either saying that he doesn't understand the significance of Communion, or he's saying that he accepts this church's teaching regarding communion. In the latter case, he would be a formal heretic and he would be committing a mortal sin. In the former case, he's a material heretic, but he could be excused for his ignorance. That seems implausible in this case.

Is this seen as less severe in the Roman Catholic Church?

No, it isn't.

The concept that communion should be taken with only one sect is ridiculous. Communion happens between a person and GOD, not between that person and the church. This is all just more of that stupid "My church is going to heaven, but yours teaches of concept X which my church views as heretical so you can go to hell whether you love God or not, because you don't love him in our special and copyrighted way". It's all crap. Churches which teach this are full of bull, and aiming for spiritual control of their members. If there isn't a ninth simminarion ecumenical methodist church of thebreians somewhere I'm at, I would feel perfectly at home at a seventeenth reformed baptists temple of the shriners. It's all fine with me so long as they believe Jesus drank non-alcoholic wine in a little plastic cup, as I do.